Alkali-rich diet helps strengthen bones

Diets that are rich in protein and cereal grains produce excess acid in the body that may increase calcium excretion and weaken bones, according to a study due to appear in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. A team of US researchers found that increasing the alkali content of the diet, with a pill or through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, has the opposite effect and strengthens skeletal health.

"Heredity, diet and other lifestyle factors contribute to the problem of bone loss and fractures," said Bess Dawson-Hughes, lead author of the study. "When it comes to dietary concerns regarding bone health, calcium and vitamin D have received the most attention, but there is increasing evidence that the acid/base balance of the diet is also important," she added.

In this study, 171 men and women aged 50 and older were randomized to receive placebo or doses of either: potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate or potassium chloride for three months. Researchers found that subjects taking bicarbonate had significant reductions in calcium excretion, signaling a decrease in bone resorption.